RESOLUTION ON SOUTH AFRICA
CM/Res. 490 (XXVII) 1976
[Council]
Having reviewed the grave situation in South Africa and the policies and actions of the racist
regime designed to consolidate racism in Southern Africa as a whole;
Noting that the South African regime has greatly increased its military budget after its defeat in
Angola and launched intensified repression against black people and all opponents of the
inhuman policy of apartheid;
Concerned over the growing military and naval activities of the South African regime in the Indian
Ocean and South Atlantic Zones;
Noting with grave concern that some Western countries particularly France, the Federal Republic
of Germany, the United Kingdom and the Unites States of America – have continued and stepped
up their collaboration with the racist regime, particularly in the military and nuclear fields, in
defiance of the resolutions of the United Nations and the OAU;
Condemning the manoeuvres of the racist regime such as the establishment of Bantustans and in
particular the proposed declaration of independence of the Transkei on 26 October 1976;
Noting with satisfaction the growing militancy of the black people of South Africa in defiance of
the inhuman repression by the racist regime;
Recalling the “Declaration on Southern Africa” adopted at the Ninth Extraordinary Session of the
Council of Ministers held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, April 1975;
Noting with satisfaction that the United Nations General Assembly, at its session in 1975,
recognised the special responsibility of the United Nations for the oppressed people of South
Africa and their liberation movements, and to all those imprisoned, restricted or exiled for their
opposition to apartheid;
Endorsing the Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the International Seminar for the
Eradication of Apartheid and in support of the struggle for liberation in South Africa, organised by
the United Special Committee Against Apartheid in Havana from 24 to 28 May 1976;
Considering that it is imperative to mobilise the maximum support of governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations to the cause of liberation in South Africa;
Reiterating the firm commitment of the OAU to the liberation of the people of South Africa from
racist oppression, the establishment of majority rule and the exercise by the people of their right
of self-determination;
1.
STRONGLY CONDEMNS the South African regime for its practice of racist oppression
against the African people of South Africa, its illegal occupation of Namibia, its support of
the Smith regime in Southern Rhodesia and its constant acts of aggression against
independent African states,
2.
REAFFIRMS the legitimacy of the struggle of South African people, under the leadership
of their liberation movements, and by all necessary means of their choice, to eradicate
apartheid and establish majority rule;
3.
CONDEMNS the Governments of France, the Federal Republic of Germany, United
Kingdom and the United States of America for their continuing and increasing
cooperation with the […]
4.
URGENTLY CALLS on the Government of France to rescind its decision to permit the
supply of nuclear power stations to South Africa, since the acquisition of nuclear
equipment and technology by the racist regime constitutes a grave danger to the world
peace and international security;
5.
DEPLORES all co-operations between certain member states of the OAU, the Western
Powers and the South African regime in the Indian Ocean and South Atlantic Zones;
6.
CONDEMNS once again Israel and South Africa which by strengthening their political,
economic and military co-operation pose a grave threat to African and Arab countries as
well as to international peace and security;
7.
APPEALS to oil-producing countries, which have not yet done so, to impose forthwith an
effective oil embargo against South Africa;
8.
REQUESTS the African and other non-aligned states members of the Organization of
Petroleum Exporting Countries to take all necessary steps to ensure an effective oil
embargo against South Africa;
9.
CALLS UPON all member states, which have not yet done so, to take urgent steps to
deny landing and other facilities to aircraft, ships and oil tankers proceeding to or
returning from South Africa, and to prohibit aircraft from overlying their territories on their
way to or from South Africa;
10.
CALLS ON all states, which have not yet done so, to sign and ratify the International
Convention for the Suppression and Punishment of Apartheid;
11.
ADDRESSES a special appeal to Latin American states to reject the efforts by the South
African regime to develop political, economic and other relations with them;
12.
REQUESTS the African group at the United Nations to continue its efforts for the total
political, economic and military isolation of the South African regime;
13.
EXPRESSES its appreciation to all those governments and organisations, which have
implemented sanctions against South Africa and assisted the liberation movements;
14.
APPEALS to all friendly countries and organisations especially the Non-Aligned
Conference and the Arab League to increase their moral, political and material support to
the liberation movement in South Africa;
15.
COMMENDS the actions of anti-apartheid and solidarity movements, trade unions,
religious and other organisations that have campaigned against collaboration with the
South African regime and supported the struggle of the South African people;
16.
EXPRESSES its appreciation to the United Nations Special Committee against Apartheid
for its persistent efforts in the cause of liberation of South Africa;
17.
REQUESTS member states to provide facilities to the South African liberation
movements to broadcast radio programmes to South Africa in various languages;
18.
REQUESTS the African group at the United Nations and the Co-ordinating Committee for
the Liberation of Africa to take steps to ensure the active presence, at the United Nations
Headquarters, of South African liberation movements recognised by the OAU;
19.
RECOMMENDS that member states takes strong measures against transnational
companies which are actively collaborating with the South African regime, especially in
the military and nuclear fields;
20.
APPEALS to member states to instruct their diplomatic missions abroad to consult
among themselves in taking joint action to promote the implementation of OAU
resolutions against apartheid.
21.
AGAIN CONDEMNS the Bantustan policy aimed at the balkanisation of the territory of
South Africa;
22.
CALLS ON member states to refrain from recognising Bantustans and other apartheid
institutions in South Africa;
23.
CALLS ON all governments and organisations to observe 26 October 1976 – the date on
which the South African regime plans to declare Transkei as the first independent
Bantustan – as a day of solidarity with the peoples of South Africa and Namibia in their
struggle against Bantustans and for the territorial integrity of their nations;
24.
DEMANDS the unconditional release of all political prisoners and detainees, as well as
those subjected to restrictions, and the ending of torture of prisoners and detainees in
South Africa;
25.
CALLS FOR the expulsion of the South African regime from all international
organisations and conferences, and the appropriate representation of liberation
movements as the authentic representatives of the people of South Africa;
26.
AUTHORISES the Administrative Secretary-General to associate the OAU with missions
of the Special Committee to various Western and other governments to secure their cooperation for action against apartheid
27.
REQUESTS the Administrative Secretary-General:
a)
to monitor in co-operation with the United Nations Centre against Apartheid and
other appropriate organisations, all reports on military, economic and other
collaboration with South Africa, and to publicise all such reports,
b)
to encourage and assist anti-apartheid movements, churches, trade unions and
other organisations in Western countries which are engaged in campaigns
against collaboration with South Africa;
c)
to submit, to the 29th Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers, a detailed
report on collaboration by various states with South Africa;
d)
to launch, in co-operation with the United Nations, an information campaign to
acquaint world public opinion with the situation in South Africa and the struggle of
the oppressed people, under the leadership of their liberation movements, for
freedom and non-racialism.
28.
SOLEMNLY DECLARES that any act of aggression by the South African regime against
any independent African state is an act of aggression against the whole of Africa.